Method and system for routing calls from a standard telephone device to a voice over Internet Protocol network

ABSTRACT

The invention enables accessing and using a Voice over Internet Protocol network, and can use a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network. A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits, such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, which remain unchanged from call to call made through a given network service provider. A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature for placing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIP service provider&#39;s database on a server, which is accessible through the Internet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls from conventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet. The VoIP network detects a flag such as leading “0,” determines that the call recipient station is a personal computer, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the call to the PC.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/359,585, filed Feb. 23, 2006 which is a divisional of applicationSer. No. 09/823,350, filed Mar. 29, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,050,426,which claims the priority from provisional application No. 60/193,049filed on Mar. 29, 2000, the entire contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to telephone systems, and moreparticularly to using a standard telephone to access a Voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP) network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When making a telephone call over a conventional Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), a caller uses a touch-tone telephone keypad toenter a telephone number typically consisting of eleven digits for along distance call within the United States, or other numbers of digitsin some foreign countries, which identify the call recipient. Using thenumber entered, the PSTN identifies the caller, sets up the telephoneconnection, manages the call and charges the call to the caller's orsubscriber's account. The PSTN identifies the caller by identifying thetelephone line used to make the call, which is assigned to a specificsubscriber. However, in Internet telephony systems, callers typicallyare not identified by the line they call from, so they must supply thisinformation to make VoIP telephone calls.

In order to supply account information before a telephone call can bemade over a VoIP network, callers have been required to input a longseries of digits by a procedure as for example illustrated in FIG. 1A. Aconventional telephone handset is picked up to initiate a VoIP call. Instep 110 the caller uses the telephone keypad or a computer keyboard toenter an access number of an Internet calling service, which could be alocal number or a toll free national access number. Typically, in theU.S. this is an eleven digit telephone number such as 1-800-555-1234.Once a connection is established to the service, the caller in step 120enters an account number of, say, eleven digits, followed in step 130 byentering a personal identification number (PIN) of, say, four digits.Finally, in step 140, the caller enters the desired recipient's elevendigit (or other length, depending on the country,) telephone number.This method of making a VoIP call from a regular telephone requirescallers to enter a total of approximately thirty-seven digits.

Callers accustomed to making conventional telephone calls by enteringeleven digits view entering thirty-seven digits as tedious and arediscouraged from using VoIP networks to make telephone calls. Therefore,a method of reducing the number of digits that are entered when placinga VoIP telephone call is needed.

Auto dialers, as shown in FIG. 1B, have been used to address the task ofrepeatedly transmitting strings of digits. VoIP telephone calls have theproblem that only the portion of the string corresponding to the networkaccess number, account number and PIN number is the same for all callsthrough a given service provider, whereas the portion corresponding tothe recipient's telephone number differs for each recipient. Althoughauto dialer 150 has the ability to store and transmit programmed stringsof digits, it does not have the flexibility to automatically modify anexisting string of VoIP logon digits by appending a different telephonenumber string for each call recipient. It would be inefficient to havethe caller program the auto dialer with the same logon string and adifferent telephone number string for every new call made. Also, thestorage capacity of auto dialers is finite and incrementally costly.

Furthermore, when making a VoIP telephone call it is insufficient totransmit just a string of numbers and be done. Often the caller musttransmit some digits, wait for a handshake signal from the IP network,transmit the next set of digits, and so on, until a connection isestablished. A conventional auto dialer 150 does not have the ability tointeract with a communications network in this smart fashion. Therefore,there is a need for a smart auto dialer which can automatically modify astring of digits according to a user's input, transmit that string ofdigits and interact with the communications network to establishcommunications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for accessing and using a Voiceover Internet Protocol network, and includes a process and a device forusing a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network.

A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits,such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, whichremain unchanged from call to call made through a given network serviceprovider. A caller will enter the telephone number of the call recipientand the invention will automatically dial the network access number,account number and PIN, and assist the caller in making the connection.Thus, the invention automatically performs the cumbersome tasks oflogging onto, and gaining access to, a network so that the caller doesnot have to. This enables the caller to then type in only the typicallyeleven digit telephone number of the call recipient, as would be doneusing a conventional telephone with a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC). Thismakes VoIP telephone calls as convenient to place as normal telephonecalls and hence more appealing to the average consumer.

A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature forplacing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIPservice provider's database on a server, which is accessible through theInternet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. Eachtelephone number to be called is assigned an identification numberconsisting of as few digits as possible as determined by the number ofentries in the database for a given subscriber. If the database consistsof one to ten entries then one digit is needed, eleven to one hundredentries then two digits are needed, etc. The subscriber can use a PC ora telephone to set up the speed dial list in the VoIP service provider'sdatabase on the Internet. Once the database is set up the caller takeshis or her telephone off-hook, enters the speed dial number followed byan end-marker such as a “#” sign, then uses the auto dialer to outpulsethe network access number and log onto the VoIP service provider. TheVoIP server retrieves the correct telephone number and facilitates theconnection. This feature makes placing VoIP telephone calls asconvenient as using conventional telephones or telephone services withspeed dial features.

A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls fromconventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet.The caller first enters a “0” or “00” or other designated equivalentsymbol(s), and then enters a series of digits consisting of aconventional-type telephone number associated with a specific PC on aproprietary VoIP service provider's network. The network detects theleading “0” or equivalent symbol, determines that the call recipientstation is a PC, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the callto the PC, thereby establishing a call from a conventional telephone toa PC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art method of entering digits to place aVoIP telephone call;

FIG. 1B shows a typical prior art auto dialer;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inventive device connected through aVoIP service provider to the Internet;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the inventivedevice;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the preferred method of logging onto aVoIP network to make a call;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the preferred method of routing a call;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing specifics of step 530 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing specifics of step 540 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the preferred method of updating the speeddial database used in step 610 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention provides a system and method for accessing and using aVoice over Internet Protocol network.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the inventive device 205 and a secondembodiment of the inventive device 207 as used in an environment ofpersonal computers 210, conventional telephones 220, a Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) 240, media gateway controllers 250 operated byVoIP service providers, and an Internet Protocol network 260. Inventivedevices 205, 207 and conventional telephones 220 all use conventionaltelephone lines 270 to interact with a PSTN 240, which interacts withthe IP network 260 through a media gateway controller 250. Inventivedevice 207 also uses a standard telephone cord 275 to connect to aconventional telephone 220. Personal computers 210, however, caninteract with the IP network 260 indirectly through conventionaltelephone lines 270, PSTN 240 and Media Gateway Controller 250 orthrough a dedicated line connection 280.

FIG. 3 represents one embodiment of the inventive device 205, whichpreferably includes a keypad 310, an input/output interface 320 fortelephone and fax connections, a microphone 330, a speaker 340, anoptional display 350, a bus 360, memory 370 and a Central ProcessingUnit (CPU) 380. When using device 205 to make a telephone call, thecaller first activates the device 205 by either picking up a handsetcontaining microphone 330 and speaker 340 or by pressing a designatedkey (not shown) on keypad 310. As the caller enters the desiredtelephone number through keypad 310, the telephone number will bedisplayed if device 205 has the optional display 350 and saved in memory370. CPU 380, which has been pre-programmed, then prepares anappropriate series of digits needed to make a VoIP call. CPU 380supplies this series of digits through bus 360 to the input/outputinterface 320 which transmits the digits through a telephone line 270.Once a connection is established to a media gateway controller 250 (FIG.2), CPU 380 facilitates routing signals via bus 360 between theinput/output interface 320, microphone 330, speaker 340 and optionaldisplay 350 so that the caller can complete the call. The call isterminated when the caller places the device 205 “on hook” by puttingdown the handset or by pressing a designated key on keypad 310.

An alternative embodiment 207 of the inventive device resides between aconventional telephone 220 and a wall jack which connects to a PSTN 240.Inventive device 207 acts as an accessory which upgrades a conventionaltelephone to the functional equivalent of inventive device 205.Inventive device 207 has many of the same features as inventive device205 but lacks the direct user interface capabilities such as the keypad,microphone and speaker. Once inventive device 207 has been set up, itacts like a “black box” and is transparent to the user of the attachedconventional telephone 220. This second embodiment allows the caller toutilize the new functionality without buying a new telephone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the preferred method 400 of using theinventive device 205 or 207 to establish communication through a VoIPnetwork 260. The process of placing a call begins with the step 405 ofactivating the inventive device 205 or 207 followed by the step 410 ofentering the desired recipient's telephone number. Before transmittingthe entered information the caller in step 415 can confirm that thenumbers entered are correct and ready to be sent. If the caller issatisfied with the numbers entered he or she can start the call set-upby step 415 of, for example, pressing a send button. Alternatively,inventive devices 205 and 207 can be configured to automatically set upcalls so that the caller does not need to press a send button. This canbe done by several methods such as by counting the number of digitsentered, or measuring the length of time since the last digit wasentered, and at some point concluding that all of the digits have beenentered. Before placing the call, the inventive device 205 or 207 instep 420 checks whether to bypass the VoIP network 260 and instead instep 425 use a conventional carrier, or to proceed to step 430 and dialthe VoIP network number. As described below, the inventive device can beused as a conventional telephone or be programmed to use a conventionalcarrier for a defined class of numbers entered.

Upon step 420 determining that the VoIP network 260 is to be used, theinventive device 205 or 207 assembles a string of typically thirty-sevendigits, as described in FIG. 1A, that it will transmit. The string ofdigits preferably includes an eleven digit network access number, aneleven digit account number, a four digit PIN and an eleven digitrecipient's telephone number.

Step 430 automatically dials the first eleven digits of this assembledstring to gain access to the VoIP network 260. Step 435 checks whether aconfirmation (i.e., a dial tone indicating that a communication link hasbeen established between the device and the network) has been received.If not, then step 438 checks to see whether a time-out period (e.g., twominutes) has elapsed.

If the time-out has elapsed, the process follows path 442 to step 475which indicates a time-out error, after which in step 495 the callattempt will end and the user will have to start over from the beginningstep 402.

If a confirmation is received before the time-out period has elapsed,then from step 435 the process continues to optional step 440, whichchecks for an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) (similar to acaller-ID) and, if an ANI is detected, searches the VoIP serviceprovider database in an attempt to identify a subscriber. If thesubscriber is identified then either or both of the account number andPIN may be skipped.

Next, if required, step 445 automatically dials the account number, andstep 450 checks for a confirmation that the account number has beenreceived. If no confirmation has been received then step 455 checkswhether the time-out period has elapsed.

If step 450 receives a confirmation in time, then in step 460 device 205or 207, if necessary, transmits the PIN. After steps 465 and 470 confirmreception of the PIN, step 480 finally transmits the recipient'stelephone number.

The inventive device in embodiment 205 can also be used as aconventional telephone. The FIG. 4 process in step 420 checks if device205 has been set up to be used as a conventional telephone and if sothen in step 425 bypasses the VoIP network in favor of completingtelephone calls through a conventional telephone carrier such asVerizon. The VoIP calling capabilities can be disabled by various meanssuch as switching a VoIP disable or enable button, or by typing in acode such as, for example, “99.” The inventive device 205 can also beprogrammed so that some telephone calls are not passed on to the VoIPnetwork 260. For example, the emergency number “911” can be programmedto pass to a conventional carrier. Additionally, the inventive devicecould be configured to pass all local calls such as calls that do notlead with a “1” (or a “0,” according to a third aspect of the invention,described below) to a conventional carrier, or to pass all toll-freecalls to a conventional carrier.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process 500 of routing a telephonecall after the VoIP network has been accessed and the caller logged on.Once the inventive device in FIG. 4 steps 400 has gained access to aVoIP network 260 and dialed the entered destination number, the VoIPservice provider's 250 programming determines how to route the call.Each VoIP network service provider such as, for example, ZeroPlus.com ofGermantown Md., will have proprietary, unique programming and theinventive device 205 or 207 may have to be configured differently foreach VoIP service provider that a caller may plan to use.

In step 515 the VoIP service provider checks if the telephone numberentered in step 410 is a conventional telephone number. If so, then instep 520 the call is routed to a conventional telephone module whichmanages the call as a normal VoIP network call.

Alternatively, if the telephone number entered in step 410 is not aconventional number then the VoIP service provider 250 in step 525checks if it is a speed dial number. The VoIP service providerarchitecture 250 is preferably designed to recognize speed dial numbersby looking for a marker such as “#” sign at the end of the numbers. Ifthe number entered is a speed dial number then in step 530 the call isrouted to a speed dial module which manages the call as described inFIG. 6.

The VoIP service provider next in step 535 checks if the telephonenumber entered in step 410 is a personal computer number. According tothe third aspect of the invention, the VoIP service provider's networkarchitecture is preferably designed to recognize a PC-based telephonenumber based on a marker such as a “0” or “00” at the beginning of anotherwise conventional-type telephone number. If the number entered isrecognized to be a personal computer number then in step 540 the call isrouted to a personal computer module which manages the call as describedin FIG. 7.

The FIG. 5 sequence of checking the routing is not essential and can bedone in any order.

If at this point in the process flow the call has not been routed thenpresumably there is a problem with the telephone number entered and step550 returns an error message such as “Not a valid number,” or possiblyconnects the caller to an operator.

The second aspect of the invention, a speed dial feature, allows usersto make VoIP network calls similarly to the way speed dial is used withconventional telephones. When using the speed dial feature the caller isonly required in FIG. 4 step 405 to pick up the telephone and in step410 dial several digits, which can be as few as one digit, and thenenter the “#” sign. The inventive device 205 or 207 automaticallyaccesses the network as described in FIG. 4 and then, in step 525,proceeds to step 530, which uses the “#” sign as a flag to signal thenetwork that speed dial is requested.

FIG. 6 details the process flow performed by the speed dial module instep 530. Once the service provider has been alerted that speed dial isrequested, in step 610 the provider searches a database that isassociated with the user's account to find the telephone numbercorresponding to the speed dial number and in step 620 retrieves thatcorresponding number. Step 630 checks to determine if the retrievednumber is a personal computer number and if so, step 540 routes the callto the personal computer module as described in FIG. 7. If the retrievednumber is not a personal computer number, then step 640 checks todetermine if it is a conventional telephone number. If the retrievednumber is a conventional telephone number then step 520 routes the callto the conventional telephone module shown in FIG. 5. Finally, if theretrieved number is not routed to either of these modules then step 650returns an error message consisting of information such as “Not a validspeed dial number” or possibly connects the caller to an operator.

FIG. 7 details the process flow performed by the personal computermodule in step 540. A call is routed to the personal computer modulewhen the VoIP service provider in step 530 or in step 535 determinesthat the desired telephone number entered in step 410 is that of apersonal computer 210. With this process it is possible to make atelephone call from a conventional telephone to a personal computer 210which is connected to the Internet 260. The conventional telephone topersonal computer call begins by first gaining access to the Internettelephone service provider's network and server as described in FIG. 4.Once a connection is established and the user is logged onto a server,the auto dialer in step 480 transmits the number entered by the caller.The service provider in step 535 checks if the number dialed is acomputer number. If the number dialed belongs to a computer the serviceprovider in step 710 accesses a database and looks up the IP address ofthe computer 210 being called, and in step 720 routes the call to, andcontacts, that computer. Once a connection is made the service providermanages the call in step 730 by converting the analog call signal todigital data signals and vice-versa so that the caller and the calledcomputer can communicate.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure 800 for updating the speeddial database used in step 710. The speed dial set up process 800 beginswith step 810 of accessing the website by using an electronic device,such as a computer, and going to a designated website such as, forexample, http://www.zeroplus.com, or by using a telephone and calling atelephone number which connects the user to a website. Once the user hasaccessed the website, in step 820 he/she can enter an account number anda password to logon to a specific account. The account number can be anynumber of digits but is typically eleven digits. Similarly, the passwordcan be any number of digits but is usually four digits. In step 830 the“speed dial” database can be selected and in step 840 the database canbe edited by either adding, deleting or modifying existing entries. Ifin step 810 access to the website is through an electronic device suchas a computer, the “speed dial” list can be changed by following thewritten instructions on the website, whereas if access is through atelephone then the changes can be made by following voice instructions.The database will consist of at least the speed dial number and thetelephone number. In step 840 the changes made to the database can besaved. Once the database has been edited, the user in step 850 can logout.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferredembodiments, modifications of these embodiments will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. The invention is limited only by the scope ofthe following claims.

1. A system for making VoIP network calls that requires enteringrepetitive strings of digits in addition to a conventional telephonenumber, comprising an auto dialer; a memory to store strings of digits;and a central processing unit.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein saidauto dialer can be automatically programmed by connecting to a server.3. The system of claim 1 wherein said auto dialer can be used as aconventional telephone to access existing non VoIP networks.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said string of digits is automaticallymodified when a new telephone number is entered.
 5. The system of claim1 wherein said central processing unit has interrupt driven logicenabling it to respond to input signals.
 6. A method of making a VOIPnetwork call by entering only the telephone number of the destinationparty as in a normal telephone call, comprising the steps of: activatinga communication device; entering a telephone number; confirming saidtelephone number should be routed to a VoIP network; auto dialing anetwork access number; waiting for a connection to establish; autodialing an account number; waiting for a confirmation; auto dialing aPersonal Identification Number (PIN); waiting for a confirmation; andauto dialing the entered telephone number.
 7. The method of claim 6wherein the steps can be programmed by another computer.
 8. The methodof claim 6 wherein activating a communication device is picking up ahand set.
 9. The method of claim 6 wherein said telephone number is aconventional eleven digit long distance number.
 10. The method of claim6 wherein said confirming said telephone number is checking anddetermining if the call being made should be routed to a VoIP serviceprovider or to an existing telephone carrier. 11-21. (canceled)